Minister Lee participated as a panel member in a discussion on the topic of “Building a better tomorrow after a natural disaster - A Government's perspective”, together with panel members from the US Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Anguilla and Haiti.

CHRIS is the Caribbean’s most noteworthy hotel investment conference, a prime networking opportunity for Sint Maarten. Lee commented that fruitful discussions were held on opportunities for destination Sint Maarten, discussions beneficial to the reconstruction economy of the country at present.

“Apart from the vast networking opportunities and exchange of knowledge, interesting points from the conference include the recently enacted Tourism Incentive Act of Puerto Rico. Here you see how other countries in the Caribbean are looking to see what they can do to stimulate and incentivized the tourism industry.

“Everyone from private sector at the conference really emphasized that Government’s participation, as a facilitator in the reconstruction process is critical. It was stressed that locations that have good airlift are of primary interest from an investment perspective.

“This is where it is sad to see that our current airport rebuilding process may be even more delayed based on the recent announcement of court proceedings between PJIA and NAGICO. Anguilla also stressed that they are very dependent on Sint Maarten for airlift. We have a responsibility to our neighbors and ourselves to make sure that the airport is fully operational as soon as possible.” - Minister Emil Lee

Investors at the conference spoke of ‘Maximum Risk Adjustment Returns, meaning that investors are no longer looking at simple business models. Business models and plans are adjusted based on the risk factors.

The better the infrastructure, the more attractive the investment, these considerations influence the risk factor of an investment. These are important factors to be aware of from the investor perspective.

That Sint Maarten is further improving its infrastructure and putting electricity and water lines underground creates less risk for investors and making the country more attractive for investors.

Over 300 conference delegates, representing 28 countries were in attendance. Lee met representatives of the Hilton hotel group, whom are currently flagging a property on Sint Maarten. Representatives of the Apple Leisure Group, an upcoming powerhouse in the tourism industry also expressed interest in a management contract on the island.

The networking opportunities continued with several construction companies who are interested in bidding applications for current construction projects on the island. These companies and contractors expressed interest in the local labour market, work permit procedures and housing availability.

Suppliers of building materials were also in attendance and networking, expressing interest in distribution and demonstration opportunities on Sint Maarten. Sunwing representatives, owners of the former Great Bay hotel, were also present at the conference as well as representatives of the World Bank.

Prime Minister Leona Marlin-Romeo was originally invited to attend and represent Sint Maarten at the CHRIS conference. The Prime Minister was unable to attend due to conflicting commitments. Minister Lee was asked to attend on her behalf as deputy Prime Minister.

SINT MAARTEN (CAY HILL) - The Ambulance Department personnel of Ministry Public Health, Social Development & Labor recently successfully completed a weeklong training in Advance Life Support (ALS).

The training allowed for both the Ambulance and Fire departments to come together with the aim of exchanging knowledge and improving cooperation techniques. This towards improving collaborative response in emergent and crisis situations.

Ambulance Department Head drs. Cylred Richardson says that these specific type of training and more will continue twice annually as part of an extended 3 years cooperation agreement following hurricane Irma between the Regional Ambulance Organization (RAV) of Brabant Middle-West-North Holland.

The training week ended with a joint scaled up (technical assistance) scenario in the parking lot of the Fire & Ambulance Department in which command and control was demonstrated together with the on-duty medical officer (Ovd-G) and on-duty fire officer (Ovd-B).

This scenario shows the cooperation between the various disciplines with the end motto One Team, One Mission is Good Care.

Minister Emil Lee: I would like to congratulate management and the ambulance teams on the successful completion of the training. The effective collaboration of both units is crucial to ensuring the safety and care of those in need and reliant of these services in emergency situations.

I know that both teams are truly dedicated to their work and I commend them for continuously going above and beyond to maintain their skills and knowledge but to also share and improve with others. I am very proud of the dedication to consistently improve on the quality of service.

GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – The Collective Prevention Services (CPS) is preparing for its third Vaccination Community Outreach for the month of May. The outreach is scheduled for Saturday, May 26 from 9.00am to 12.30pm and will focus on the age group 4-17. The outreach will take place at the Vineyard Office Park in Philipsburg.

CPS, a department of the Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, held its’ second Vaccination Outreach for 2018 which took place on April 7th and was deemed a success.

The second Vaccination Outreach had a large turnout. A total of 129 visitors attended the outreach of which 109 children were vaccinated. To facilitate clients, staff of Youth Health Care (YHC) worked beyond the outreach closure time to reach out to the parents and children.

Some children however, were not able to receive their vaccination and was given an appointment to return at a later date at their convenience. Children within the age group 6-8 and 11-17 accounted for the most vaccinated group within the School Vaccination Program.

Schools received invitations to visit the outreach, targeting children who are due or that are not up to date with their vaccinations. Primary Schools such as Martin Luther King Jr, Marie Genevieve, MAC 1 & 2 and the Seventh Day Adventist responded well to the invitations.

The first Vaccination Outreach was held on March 24th and attended to 52 children who received their due vaccines of which 44 were in the age category of under 4-years, and eight were in the age group 4 thru 17-years. This first outreach focused on babies and toddlers (age 0-4years).

The Vaccination Program Outreach initiatives aims to help bring immunization-delayed infants and young children up-to-date with their vaccination schedule. In addition, an opportunity to inform parents on vaccines offered within the program and the benefits and importance of such.

Vaccines help your immune system fight more than 20 dangerous diseases. From the time we’re born, vaccines offer protection to help individuals stay healthy throughout their entire lives.

Evidence continues to show that vaccination is one of the safest, most cost-effective ways to prevent diseases and death.

Within the Region, many countries are on alert for Measles. Measles is a serious and contagious disease caused by a virus and is spread from person to person through the air. It can cause pneumonia, seizures, brain damage, and even death. Vaccination is the best way to prevent measles.

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - Social & Health Insurances SZV would like to invite the public and its customers to the 10th annual Lion Rudy Hoeve Health & Wellness Fair taking place Saturday May 26th at the Belair Community Centre from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. SZV staff will be present with two information stations offering general information on its services and elaboration of online self-service options via the website www.szv.sx.

“We look forward to participating and meeting our customers in a less formal setting this Saturday. It is another great opportunity to promote our self-service tools and options to the public. Over the years we have expanded our service options and have made much information readily available for our customers, we continue to promote these developments every chance we get.

“For example, did you know we offer customer service contact via our Facebook page? It is not new, but a great way to limit the need to call or visit our office. Our Facebook response time is 2 working days, with most inquiries being handled within 1 working day. This is the same for online contact via our website. We have lots to share and we look forward to doing so at the Fair this Saturday.”

The event is free of charge and a great opportunity for the public to familiarize themselves with some of the health care service providers on the island, take part in demonstrations, sample materials, get free health tests and more.

“We congratulate the St. Maarten Lion’s Club on the 10th Anniversary of the Health & Wellness Fair. We are happy to be able to participate yet another year. The fair has proven to be an anticipated event by the community and within the healthcare sector and we are happy to see it reach its 10 year mark.”

SINT MAARTEN (MAHO) – The Maho Group and Sonesta St Maarten Resorts is grateful for the enduring support from its clients, partners and guests over the past year following the devastation caused by Hurricane Irma.

“The Maho Group is confident that it can meet this reopening schedule and deliver two new, world class resorts, provided that the Government of St. Maarten expedites the necessary approvals and supports The Maho Group’s efforts,” said Saro Spadaro, president & CEO of The Maho Group. “While our reopening dates may be aggressive, we remain very concerned about the lack of clarity as to Princess Juliana Airport’s plans and timelines.”

Loyal guests of the resorts will be reassured that the resorts’ signature limitless, all-inclusive concepts will remain the same, as will favorite services, amenities and familiar faces of their beloved staff, with a number of exciting new features to debut. Sonesta St. Maarten Resorts has taken every measure to implement the latest architectural innovations and storm resistant materials in the renovation, ensuring the future security and well being of its properties and guests.

The resort’s Sky Tower sustained the most damage and the renovation required that the building be stripped to its main structural frame that was fortunately spared by the storm. The reconstruction project will entirely overhaul the building instating a comprehensive architectural and interior redesign but most importantly, will install TCK and LVKE building technology with storm resistant building envelope that can withstand sustained winds in excess of 200mph winds (Irma had sustained winds of 165mph) and severe earthquakes.

TCK and LVKE is a China-based, green technology consortium and its revolutionary building panels will also significantly enhance thermal insulation and energy efficiency, reducing the carbon footprint of the resort, as well as improve fire resistance making the building safer.

Groupe Nox Engineering and Studio Trebbi Engineering completely re-designed the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems of the resort. The new Sky Tower will be compliant with all the latest safety and environmental standards.

Design + Positif is responsible for the overall architectural and interior redesign of Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Galo Rosas, principal and Senior Architect, is spearheading the project. The resort will be updated with a new look reflecting a contemporary, clean and airy aesthetic throughout the public spaces, restaurants and guestrooms.

With limitless all-inclusive meals, drinks, Kids Club, Teen Zone and scheduled activity programs for all ages, Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa is a destination within a destination, offering the island’s most exciting nightlife, a variety of accommodations and first-rate amenities for singles, couples, families and groups.

The 10-acre, 416-room beachfront property is conveniently located on St. Maarten’s southwest shore just minutes from the airport and features the oversized signature Oasis pool area with swim-up bar and separate kids pool with mini aqua park; five restaurants and a pizzeria; five bars; fitness center; sports courts; oceanfront wedding gazebo; and more than 24,000 square-feet of meeting space and unique outdoor venues.

Guest can enjoy other amenities including the signature Serenity Spa and the destination’s largest gaming emporium Casino Royale as well as access to tours, car rental and motorized water sports for an additional fee.

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - Thieves caused a great inconvenience to UTS broadband internet and mobile customers in various neighborhoods when they vandalized a transmitter site on Saturday with the intention of stealing copper cabling, UTS said in a press statement on Sunday.

“The perpetrators broke into the site location, cut and removed a large portion of transmission cabling, effectively severing communications to several neighborhoods. The outage affected both broadband and mobile service in the neighborhoods of Dawn Beach, Pointe Blanche, Madame Estate and Cay Hill/Belair on St. Maarten.

“UTS technicians responded to the interruption immediately, working diligently on restoring service to the affected areas. Service was fully restored by noon on Sunday.”

"We'd like to commend our technicians for working tirelessly to restore service and for even giving chase to the vandals when it appeared some of them were still on location," says UTS Marketing and Communication Officer, Ivy Lambert.

"We appreciate their dedication to the company and to our valued customers. We also sincerely regret the inconvenience caused by the damage to the equipment and are happy to report full restoration of service."

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - The Council of Ministers (COM) has put Maria Plantz forward to the Kingdom Council of Ministers as nominee for the position of member of the Kingdom Council of State (Raad van State) as per October 1, 2018.

This vacancy remained unfilled after Dennis Richardson left the Council of State in 2013 to become Minister of Justice. Mrs. Plantz currently serves as member nominated by Sint Maarten of the CFT (Committee for Financial Supervision for Curacao & Sint Maarten), since October 1, 2015 and has previously served as vice-chair of the first Corporate Governance Council of Sint Maarten from 2010 to 2014.

Mrs. Plantz is the granddaughter of the first elected Senator of the Windward Islands, Mr. William Rufus Plantz, and is the legal representative of his estate on Sint Maarten. Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin is extremely happy that this important position to safeguard Kingdom relations will be filled now.

The Kingdom Council of State is a High Council of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which acts, among others, as independent advisory body to the Kingdom Government on legislative and administrative matters, including matters, which affect the Caribbean countries in the Kingdom.

Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin remarked, “We have come to know Mrs. Plantz as a knowledgeable legal professional, with a wealth of experience gained from her career as CEO (Chief Executive Officer) in international business.

She has proven to be a valuable member of team Sint Maarten, serving the country in public functions since 2010 and I am very happy that she will accept this new role when her term as member of CFT ends on October 1.”

The Kingdom Council of Ministers is currently considering the succession of Mrs. Plantz at CFT, where her departure will leave a void. “We are mindful that we need to ensure that a replacement is found for Mrs. Plantz at the CFT as soon as possible. We regard CFT as an important partner to achieve improvement of our overall financial budgeting and accountability”, said Prime Minister Leona Romeo- Marlin.

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - On Saturday, 10 Key Domino’s team members are headed to the World-Wide Rally to be held at the Mandalay Bay during the next week. Domino’s holds these rally’s every other year and is attended by ‘Dominoids’ from all over the world.

The attendance this year is expected to be a whopping 10,000. The idea is to Celebrate and award the efforts, results, further the training and knowledge of all those who attend.

“Each Rally we try to bring 6 of us, but this year after Irma and all the hard work that our dedicated team members put in during the aftermath, we decided to dig deeper in our pockets and find a way to bring a few more.

Sadly, we can’t take everyone, and many well deserving team members will perhaps get the chance to attend the next one,” said John Caputo, the local Domino’s franchisee. “The efforts of what the Domino’s St. Maarten team accomplished after Irma being the first to Open; not to sell but to give didn’t go unnoticed by Domino’s Corporate as St. Maarten is also set to be featured in a video about the island’s recovery and how our team members rallied to help within the community and each other.

“The Domino’s World also responded to provide assistance to them thru an internal program called “Partners. Team members helping team members”. Relief assistance was provided to the whole team to help them rebuild and replace what they had lost,” John continued to say.

The attendees will be immersed in the latest Domino’s training, awards, presentations, and celebrations which cap off with a closing party featuring a concert by Earth Wind and Fire. In all 10,000 Dominoids from around the world will attend and this certainly will be great exposure for St. Maarten since we are being featured.

John Caputo is also a presenter in a break out session about thinking and marketing outside the box; taking risks. The session has been booked up to room capacity. Pizza delivery by Jet pack and delivery via Winair and Post Irma efforts will surely be shown.

“Last June, St. Maarten hosted a smaller regional conference and the attendees from Latin America, South America, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean and they saw St. Maarten at our very best as the island as a whole really rallied to make it the highest rated regional meeting to date.

“Then just a few short months later they saw an Island devastated. I can’t wait for them to see how we are bouncing back and how trying times can bring out the best in people. I’m certainly proud that my team will be recognized for their efforts,” John continued to say.

There is a lot to celebrate this year as Domino’s worldwide has become the largest pizza company in the world surpassing Pizza Hut relating to market share and volumes; A goal that was expected to happen in 2020 but thru innovations, online ordering, and taking some risks came to fruition a few years early. Domino’s operates 15,000 locations in 85 Countries around the world.

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - The U14 boy’s selection will be travelling to Haiti in July 2018 to participate in the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) Challenge in Haiti from July 21-29.

They will be facing several other Caribbean Countries and are hoping to make their mark in the region.

The President of the Sint Maarten Football Federation (‘SXMFF’), Sudesh Singh: ‘the national selection players have been training for some time now and are excited to be able to represent Sint Maarten abroad.

“Our goal is to make sure they gain the necessary experience and, most importantly, for them to have fun playing ‘the Beautiful Game’. The participation in these international tournaments will also continue to strengthen our national players, out football programs and hopefully inspire more youths to play football’.

For more information on the road to the competition, please follow our Facebook page: St. Maarten Soccer.

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLAND) - At a press conference held on Wednesday, May 9th, President of the Board of the University of St. Martin (USM), Mrs. Valerie Giterson-Pantophlet, in the presence of Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Jorien Wuite introduced the new Dean of Academics and President of the University.

In her introductory remarks Mrs. Giterson-Pantophlet highlighted that both new staff members are fully committed to making serious contributions to further build the institution and that their presence fills the void left by the departure of key staff members in 2017.

New Dean of Academics, Dr. Rolinda Carter, a local St. Maartener and alumna of the University, has a doctorate in pathology and laboratory medicine and has a love for science and research which she brings with her to her new position.

President, Dr. G. Antonio Carmona-Baez, has a Master of Arts degree from the University of Amsterdam in International Relations. Dr. Baez, who originates from Puerto Rico, also studied political science and engages in research in public policy with a focus on sustainable development.

Minister Wuite expressed her delight in the appointment of the new staff members and re-affirmed the intention of the Ministry to continue to partner with USM to engage in critical conversations regarding the funding, subsidy, multi-annual strategic planning and legislation of higher education.

She recognizes the importance of both functions as they are critical and important to acknowledge, position and develop the institute as an institution for higher education and science. Minister Wuite ended the press conference by wishing the USM team and board much success.

SINT MAARTEN/UNITED KINGDOM – Since its establishment in 2014, K1 Britannia Foundation has worked with and to support vulnerable youth on the island. Hurricane Irma brought a lot of challenges to the island, one of them being high unemployment. This means that K1’s target group of youth has become much more vulnerable.

K1 is creating training programs in partnership with other organizations on the island to give teenagers the opportunity to get jobs in the boat building and construction fields, which are two very relevant job markets during these upcoming years of rebuilding.

One of the long-term goals of K1 is to create training opportunities abroad for vulnerable youth on the island who do not have the opportunity to benefit from such training on their own.

The belief is that having the chance to study/work abroad for a period of time, broaden one's horizon, vision, possibilities, opportunities and life goals. It gives them a chance to be exposed to an environment that is new and different where no one has any preconceived ideas or has put them in any kind of box. The world becomes a blank canvas for them to create their own imprint on.

One of the foundation’s pilot programs is a 47-week complete boat building apprenticeship program at IBTC Lowestoft in the United Kingdom in collaboration with the K1 Britannia Trust, sister charity of the foundation.

Eighteen-year-old King is one of the recipients who has been given the opportunity to complete this course which besides boatbuilding skills will also additionally cover other relevant skills to gain employment in the marine industry.

“We are very proud of King and with our experience working with him over the last two years, we felt he was the best candidate for this program and also someone who has worked in the maritime industry in St. Maarten and has a desire to continue to do so. This is both an incredible opportunity for this youth as well as the island as King will return with specialized skills that are not currently taught in St. Maarten” said K1 co-founder Priya Thirumur.

The hope is to expand this program further and to be able to send youth abroad, near or far for similar apprenticeships.

“We are very thankful to those who have helped make King's journey so far, one of them being the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta who helped to pay the initial part of King's school fees” added K1 Project Manager Iris Hakkens.

The K1 Second Chance Program gives over 30 vulnerable youth on the island educational and job training opportunities as well as mentors and workshops to guide them to become productive members of society.

The journey has just begun for King, who needs the support of individuals and the business community to help him complete his certification.

SINT MAARTEN (HOPE ESTATE) - In November 2017 the Dutch National Disaster Fund (NRF) pledged a maximum of 2 million euros for post-Irma recovery projects in St. Maarten, Saba and St. Eustatius. Since March 2018 the fund is open for applications which must be submitted before 1 August 2018.

Organizations that focus on the re-building and strengthening of social networks and activities are invited to come to an information session which will be organized by Fleur Hermanides and Jose Sommers, local project advisers for the Disaster Fund.

This will take place on Tuesday, May 15th at the St. Maarten Senior Citizen Center in Hope Estate from 6.30-8.30PM.

In an earlier press release the board of the Disaster Fund informed the public of its decision to spend 2/3’s of the fund via organizations that are established and registered on the islands.

Organizations such as neighborhood and community centers, children day care and after school and youth centers, PTAs as well as organizations that cater to vulnerable persons such as seniors, mentally and physically challenged and low income/socially challenged groups, form the main target group.

Most of these social NPOs offer social, cultural, arts, sports, environmental, parent-child and/or other activities with the aim of promoting social cohesion and strengthening the social fabric of the community. Organizations that fall into, or collaborate with one of these categories, are encouraged to attend this information session and apply for funding.

The local non-profit sector has proven to be a very important stakeholder after the hurricanes. The local advisors are excited to assist the non-profit organizations with making use of this funding opportunity, as it is clear, 8 months post Irma and Maria, how much the NGO/NPO community has already done for the islands, but also how much social support is still needed.

The prospective 2 million euro’s that has been made available is a perfect opportunity for not only the large, but also for the small local social organizations to strengthen themselves and the projects and programs they execute.

During the information session criteria will be shared and attendees will be taken through the forms sharing some ins and out on the application process.

Information (Terms of Reference) on this project funding opportunity can be found via www.nationaalrampenfonds.nl/irma. This also includes a downloadable application form (in both Dutch and English).

The project advisers can be contacted at 5860808 / sintmaarten@samenwerkendefondsen.org (Fleur Hermanides) and 5815050 / sommersjose@gmail.com (Jose Sommers) and are looking forward to see a large turnout on Tuesday, May 15th 2018, 6:30 p.m. at the St. Maarten Senior Citizen Home Center in Hope Estate.

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Princess Cruises will start their summer’s cruise itinerary off with ‘Rhythm of the Caribbean,’ a new immersive cultural experience on Caribbean sailings which will include regional cuisine, signature cocktails, theme parties and presentations from regional experts.

The program allows cruise passengers to be inspired by the wonders of the Caribbean and instills a passion for discovering new cultures and destinations. Guests will also receive inside tips on must-do excursions at each port.

Port St. Maarten Management would like to commend Princess Cruises on their new program that will celebrate vibrant island life through entertainment, gastronomy and authentic Caribbean offerings.

“Each destination has its own unique offerings of heritage and culture, and the only way to experience such is by visiting the island. Princess Cruises via its program gives a taste to their guests of what they can expect once they disembark the vessel,” Port St. Maarten Management said on Tuesday.

Acting Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Cornelius de Weever hailed the program as an eye-opener for cruise passengers into the region’s variety of colorful experiences.

“This is what re-discovering destination St. Maarten/St. Martin is all about, diving into island life. Cruise passengers will get a true experience of what the destination has to offer as they explore and experience the ‘Friendly Island,’ both North (French) and South (South)” Minister Cornelius de Weever said on Tuesday.

'Rhythm of the Caribbean' launches aboard Caribbean Princess in May and is scheduled to roll out to additional ships for the upcoming fall/winter Caribbean season.

Princess Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL and CUK), one of the largest vacation companies in the world. Princess Cruises first set sail in 1965 with a single ship cruising to Mexico. Today, the line has grown to become the third largest cruise line in the world, renowned for innovative ships. Princess Cruises is a recognized leader in worldwide cruising, carrying 1.7 million guests each year to destinations around the globe ranging in length from three to 114 days.

Princess' more than 150 different itineraries offer travelers the opportunity to literally cover the globe, with sailings to six continents that call at more than 300 ports and destinations around the world. Destinations include the Caribbean, Alaska, Panama Canal, Europe, Mexico, South America, Australia/New Zealand, South Pacific, Hawaii, Tahiti/French Polynesia, Asia, India, Africa, Canada/New England and world cruises.

MADAME ESTATE - On Tuesday morning a family member of Donatienne Brown also known as Doni filed a missing person report at the Detective Department in Philipsburg. According to the family-member Donatienne had left her home on Arch road on Monday May 7th between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m.

According to information Donatienne was last seen in the area of Baie Rouge walking in the direction of Sandy Ground on the French Side. Donatienne is 36 years old, dark complexion, approximately 5.7” feet tall and is 7 months pregnant.

When she left home she was dressed in white blouse and dark colored pants. Donatienne is mentally unstable and sometimes behaves quite aggressive.

The police department and family members are requesting the assistance of the community to locate Donatienne and bring her back home safely where she can get proper treatment and care.

Persons to call if the where-about of Donattiene is known are Mrs. S. Brown at 522-4940 and E. Kemper at 581-3711 or call the Police Department 54-22222 ext. 213/214 or # 911. (Sint Maarten Police Force)

SINT MAARTEN (BELAIR) - “VLF’s Leadership Summit lived up to and surpassed expectations. It was profoundly inspiring,” said Ken Crossély, poet, and a recipient of VLF’s Leader Worth Following Awards, for his heroic and self-less efforts in saving & preserving lives after Hurricane Irma 2017.

VLF’s two-day Leadership Summit comprised Leadercast, the world’s largest one day leadership conference on May 4th, which allowed attendees to improve their own personal leadership journey with tips for self-evaluation and self-growth. Leadercast Live 2018 focused on self-leadership, being the highest form of leadership, and provided participants tools and inspiration to “Lead themselves.” Leadercast was facilitated locally by MCs Chet Euton and Rosa Richardson.

Attendees were inspired and stimulated by head of the Department of Culture Ms Clara Reyes who led them in a brain dance warm up based on the eight developmental patterns healthy human beings naturally move through in the first year of life.

Developed by Anne Green Gilbert, the Brain Dance helped to awaken their senses and opened them up to receive and digest all the speakers had to share. Reyes ended her session with a powerful poem entitled, I Dare You to Dream by local poet, Deborah Drisana Jack which the participants also recited with her.

VLF’s Leadership Summit continued on May 5th with some challenging and interactive sessions with certified John Maxwell Coach, Nelson Els who shared on John Maxwell’s Invaluable Laws of Growth which enabled participants to do some deep internal reflection on where they are in their lives, and through guided questions helped them to discover where they desired to be with tools to get there.

Jasmine Payne, integrated marketing consultant from Barbados, assisted employees and employers to better marry their personal and corporate brands to create a dynamic service brand that leaves customers satisfied while increasing the businesses’ bottom line.

The global visibility catalyst, Ann DeVere from Hollywood California helped leaders to understand how they could monetize their passion through creating videos that sell their expertise. Although time was limited in these presentations, follow up sessions are planned to further build on the introductory material offered.

Dr. Francis Cotton and Roy Cotton Jr. helped attendees to discover their core styles of relating to others and life through the DISC assessment, the world’s #1 behavioural profiling tool. Participants were amazed at how accurate their individual DISC assessments were and were thankful for receiving such a tool to better lead themselves. Businesses expressed interest in using the tool for their staff to create better working environments and more harmonious working relationships as well as for hiring staff.

VLF’s Leadership Summit ended with VLF’s Leader Worth Following Awards and Symposium. Participants were led by visionary of VLF, Dr. Erna Mae Francis Cotton in a visioning exercise which propelled them ten years into the future and created a buzz of excitement and anticipation for their and St. Maarten’s preferred future.

Apostle Napolina Richardson received VLF’s Visionary Leader Worth Following Awards, through popular vote. Ken Crossély received a heroic award; while 18 year old Genora Jankee received VLF’s Emerging Visionary Leader Worth Following Award.

The evening ended with a dynamic local panel of leaders comprising local author, Mr. Joseph Lake Jr. who focused on what an independent St. Maarten would look like; Dr. Alicia Liverpool who focused on the necessity for justice and righteousness in leadership so that the people prosper; Joel Ayuk, of CanI TV addressed the importance of media in inspiring and uplifting the community; Dwain Carbon of Carbon Acquisition Group focused on the importance of businesses giving back to the community so that the community thrives; while 18 year old Kamilah Gumbs focused on the necessity of including youth in the planning and development of St. Maarten so that their ideas and values are also respected since youth will inherit the visions cast today. Next year’s event is slated for May 10th-11th, 2019.

SINT MAARTEN (COLE BAY) - The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation will be organizing the first Shark and Ocean themed Art Exhibition at the Axum Art Café on the 8th of June 2018 as part of St Maarten Shark Week. The Art Exhibition will be the kick off of this year’s Shark Week, which will be held from the 8th until the 16th of June 2018.

Sharks are the most misunderstood species on the planet as they are repeatedly displayed as villains and being dangerous; however, they are actually the victims of humans poaching, finning and overfishing. Worldwide over 100 million sharks are killed per year resulting in half of all shark species being threatened or endangered.

It is important that we work together to ensure the survival of our shark populations, therefore the Nature Foundation is trying to bring this awareness to the public by organizing Shark Week; “We are very pleased to partner with the Axum Art Café in Phillipsburg in order to stimulate art work on our island and educate people about sharks. Therefore, we invite all St Maarten artists to submit their work related to sharks and our ocean for this exceptional art exhibition” Stated nature Foundation’s Project Officer Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern.

“The Axum Art Café offers local cultural activities such as live music, art exhibitions and performance arts, visitors can relax and appreciate art from St Maarten at our café. Partnering with the Nature Foundation gives us the opportunity to show art work related to a theme which have not been exposed before. We think it is a great opportunity to showcase the beautiful underwater world of St Maarten using local art work” stated Ménélik Arnell Manager of the Axum Art Café.

All St Maarten artists are invited to submit their art, photo or video work related to the theme ‘Shark and Ocean’ for submission an email can be send to contact@axumartcafe.com and naturefoundationprojects@gmail.com with a picture of your art or photo work; name, size and short story of your work; vending price and your name and contact details. Submissions need to be send in before the 21st of May 2018.

PHILIPSBURG – “KPSM (Sint Maarten Police Force), we would like to thank the general public for a safe conclusion of the 2018 Carnival season. Despite a few minor, expected, incidents throughout the season it was over all a dormant carnival season,” the KPSM expressed in a press statement on Friday.

“KPSM would also like to thank SCDF (St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation) for their cooperation during the 2018 carnival season as we too are now looking forward to 50years of carnival in 2019.

“We would also like to remind the public that although carnival is over crime is still evident and one should always be vigilant and remember the 3 A’s of Crime Prevention:

Be Aware of your surroundings at all times. 2. Be Alert to suspicious people and vehicles. 3. Avoid dangerous situations.

“If you are leaving home and out for the evening:

- Turn on lights, radio or television so that it looks like some-one is at home. - Lock all doors and windows well - Don’t display items where they can be seen from the outside. - Park your car in a well-lit area - Avoid carrying a large amount of cash. - Pay close attention to the people around - When returning to your vehicle or your home, have your keys in your hands ready to open the door. - Ask your neighbor to keep a watchful eye out for you. - Do not drink and drive.”

GREAT BAY, (DCOMM) – The Department of Statistics (STAT) from the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic & Telecommunications, has embarked upon an Economic Census Survey (ECS).

The ECS is an internationally used exercise to collect and report on the number of business establishments according to their size, economic activity/industry, and location.

STAT will also be able to identify and report on the number of micro, small, medium and large entities operating on St. Maarten.

Acting Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Cornelius de Weever implores the business community to assists the Department of STAT by participating in the survey, because accurate and up-to-date data is needed for policy planning purposes of the post-Hurricane Irma economy.

Minister De Weever during a briefing on Wednesday, thanked the business community in advance for their cooperation as well as the different entities involved in the survey.

during the briefing on Wednesday said the ECS would give a full account of all economic units partaking in the economy, and about the types of economic activity taking place on the Dutch side post-Irma.

Persaud-Hickinson added that STAT did conduct a pilot survey back in February when 350 businesses were contacted. 200 businesses were interviewed and the cooperation at that time was positive.

Persaud-Hickinson pointed out that it was critical to have benchmark statistics with respect to how many businesses are operational, closed, and/or how many new businesses have opened. The survey also breaks down the size and industry of the current business community.

Department of STAT Project Leader Jason Grant said the survey comprises of 32 questions seeking basic information from business owners such as name, address, legal form of the business, number of employees, post-hurricane status/insurance, and if it’s a hotel, the number of rooms/beds.

Chamber of Commerce & Industry (COCI) Executive Director Anastacio Baker during the briefing appealed to the business community to take part in the 30-minute survey, as the information collected will contribute to proper planning in order to move the country forward.

The information would also be very relevant for the COCI database and the Chamber prefers a joint approach rather than having individual entities going out and collecting information from its membership.

The ECS will be carried out over a 10-week period. This survey is a main data source for: 1) Creating a comprehensive Statistical Business Register system; 2) Calculating more accurately the Gross Domestic Product (GDP); 3) Obtaining data on the number and distribution of economic establishments by industrial category, region and number of employees.

More than 500 police officers in 13 countries including from Aruba and Curacao, took part in the operation that led to the apprehension of 22 individuals.

Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever said on Thursday that he commends the INTERPOL coordinated operation for its success and pointed out to the importance of cooperation and collaboration.

INTERPOL reported that nearly 350 potential victims of sexual exploitation and forced labour were rescued in the Caribbean, Central and South America.

“Cooperation is essential among law enforcement partners within the Kingdom and within the Region. Law enforcement entities are doing invaluable work to bring human trafficking crimes to justice, and at the same time, standing up for the rights and interests of the victims who have been taken advantage of.

“As countries we must continue to take steps to forge and to strengthen partnerships across the Kingdom, within the Region and across international borders. Such partnership and cooperation can be seen in the success of Operation Libertad,” Minister of Justice Cornelius de Weever said on Thursday.

In addition to coordinated police raids, searches were carried out against INTERPOL’s criminal databases, generating 30 hits, including 25 for Stolen and Lost Travel Documents. Computer equipment, mobiles phones and cash were also seized.

Both men and women, including minors, were discovered working in night clubs, farms, mines, factories and open-air markets.

To ensure victims received the necessary care following their rescue, social services and NGOs were involved in conducting post-operation interviews and providing support services to victims.

The operation was the culmination of the two-and-a-half year project funded by the Government of Canada, which provided specialized training to investigators and immigration officers in order to enhance operational expertise and regional coordination to combat human trafficking.

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) - Dr. Natasha Gittens, President and CEO of Training Professionals International Firm (TPI) has been selected to be one of three judges at the Saba Comprehensive School (SCS) first annual Mr. and Miss Pageant show that is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 23, at 6:30 p.m.

According to Mrs. Carol Irvine Skinner, a representative from SCS who has worked with Dr. Gittens in the past, “it was evident that she (Dr. Gittens) eluded and modeled confidence and poise; two of the main outcomes we will like to develop in our students, who will be taking part in the Mr. and Miss SCS Pageant. Her ability to be fair and unbiased was also another contributing factor for her selection as the head judge.”

The pageant competition was designed to critically assist the team at (SCS) institution in building the self confidence of their students, while working on their presentation skills to promote a respect for their culture and intelligence of Saba and its people.

“I am truly honored,” states Gittens, “to have been invited to be a part of such a prestigious event. I applaud the SCS and the contestants for their courage, as I will do my part to ensure the pageant’s overall success.”

The contestants will be judged on poise, personality, and confidence and will compete in cultural wear, talent, professional wear, evening gown and on-stage question segments.

SINT MAARTEN (POND ISLND) - The St. Maarten Carnival Development Foundation (SCDF) on Wednesday announced April 22, 2019 to May 6, 2019 as the dates for the 50th anniversary of St. Maarten Carnival.

“We are going to go all out for Carnival’s golden anniversary. It will be a celebration to remember,” SCDF President Alston Lourens said, adding that the Saves The Dates campaign is underway via social media.

The official part of Carnival 2019 (when Carnival Village opens and closes) spans two weeks, exactly 14 days. The pre-Carnival events, the SCDF explained, will start mid-March and run until the Village opens. “In other words, we will have almost two months of Carnival 50 activities and then some,” Lourens said.

In selecting the dates, and eventually constructing the schedule, the SCDF had to consider how Easter falls on the calendar. More specifically, how the holy week of Lent (the week of Good Friday) fell on the calendar.

By tradition, the Carnival foundation does not host any events during holy week and has always hosted Carnival after Easter. Easter 2019 is on April 21. Carnival 2019 will open on Easter Monday, April 22.

“With Easter falling late that also meant the school vacation would also run a little later into May. That gave us the space to give the public 14 days of Carnival,” Lourens said.

“We would like to see the involvement of all stakeholders, past and present, in their own ways or with the SCDF for Carnival 50. This is a once-in-a-lifetime event and we intend to involve as many people as possible to make it an epic anniversary celebration. The foundation will start planning immediately,” he said.

Lourens added that a special logo for Carnival 50 will be selected from a number of submissions and will be launched publicly soon. The foundation will also release the complete schedule of events by the end of June or before.

SINT MAARTEN (SIMPSON BAY) – His Excellency the Governor of Sint Maarten Drs. Eugene Holiday and his cabinet organized its annual King’s Day Celebration in honor of King Willem-Alexanders’ Birthday on April 26th, 2018 at Simpson Bay Resort & Marina. This year’s theme was "Resilience and Service" as a way to pay homage to how far St. Maarten has come since the passing of devastating Hurricane Irma last September.

Since the day of Hurricane Irma on September 6th, 2017, K1 has been busy with immediate, mid and long term relief.

In the weeks immediately following Irma, K1 along with the Dutch Military and Coast Guard held a total of 19 mass and mini distributions through which over 20,000 persons were assisted with food, water and supplies. Once the mass distributions were finished, hundreds of food and water packages with the help of Prime Distributors were made to assist the elderly, soup kitchens and hard hit neighborhoods.

Volunteers also set up multiple shelters by cleaning and sanitizing them as well as managed 4 evacuation shelters for 48 hours prior, during and post Hurricane Maria.

Besides the mass distributions, K1 adopted over 20 local organizations and shelters who help vulnerable groups such as foster children, elderly, sick, mentally ill, at-risk youth, those made homeless through Irma, etc. K1 visited each of these places immediately after Irma to see what was needed as far as supplies, medical help, etc.

K1 then consistently supplied each of them with food, water, hygiene and baby supplies, etc. until they were able to get back on their feet — for some places this was from immediately after Irma until the end of January. This help enabled these organizations and institutions to stay functional throughout this difficult period where those they cared for needed their help more than ever.

From December to April K1 additionally focused on procuring the material help these institutions needed, as most had suffered damages and needed new equipment, furniture, and other materials. Additionally, six organizations catering to children received construction assistance from K1, done by local youth along with international volunteer contractors. Helping these community organizations was a way to reach some of the most vulnerable in the community.

Needy families also received material help from K1 such as couches, chairs, pillows, sheets, etc.

Targeting the children on the island, over 25 primary, high and afternoon school programs received water, food supplies, hygiene products, high energy biscuits, can liners, etc. for the needy students and the school.

Lack of electricity and food supplies hampered many persons from providing hot meals for themselves in the weeks immediately after Irma. So with the help of a volunteer chef, 400 hot meals were distributed to needy neighborhoods, the elderly, afternoon school programs, foster homes, etc.

K1’s volunteers also assisted in Dominica for several weeks after Hurricane Maria on various fronts of the disaster relief efforts there.

“We are extremely humbled, surprised and grateful for this honor. It's encouraging and gives us the energy to continue preparing for the upcoming hurricane season to be ready to serve the people of St. Maarten and the region” said Chiaira Bowers, Project Manager at the foundation.

K1 Britannia Foundation is soon to announce their long term plans for ongoing disaster relief and preparedness both for St Maarten and the Caribbean region, as after Irma it was decided this needs to remain one of the foundation’s strong focuses.

POND ISLAND - On behalf of the Council of Ministers and the people of Sint Maarten, Prime Minister Leona Romeo Marlin expresses condolences to the family and friends on the passing of Joseph “Joe” Richardson on April 29th 2018.

Joseph Richardson served the community of Sint Maarten and Saba in many capacities, as a politician, board member on several Government related boards, Civil Servant, Island Council Member, Commissioner in the Executive Council and Administrator of Saba. His contributions are immense, as he has touched the lives of many persons that had the opportunity to interact with him.

In remembrance of Mr. Richardson, the Government of Sint Maarten will place the condolence register in the lobby of the Government Administration Building on Soualiga Road #1 on May 3rd from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm allowing persons in the community to pay their respect.

SINT MAARTEN/CARIBBEAN – Nearly 350 potential victims of sexual exploitation and forced labour have been rescued in an INTERPOL-coordinated operation targeting human trafficking in the Caribbean, Central and South America. Aruba and Curacao also took part in the operation.

Police authorities from Sint Maarten – the country is also a member of INTERPOL - did not participate in the operation.

More than 500 police officers in 13 countries also arrested 22 individuals during Operation Libertad (3 – 9 April), held under the INTERPOL Project to Combat Human Trafficking in the Caribbean.

Support was provided by the INTERPOL Command and Coordination Centre at the General Secretariat in Lyon, France and at the INTERPOL Regional Bureau in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In addition to coordinated police raids, searches were carried out against INTERPOL’s criminal databases, generating 30 hits, including 25 for Stolen and Lost Travel Documents. Computer equipment, mobiles phones and cash were also seized.

INTERPOL Executive Director of Police Services Tim Morris said: “Operations like this show the power of INTERPOL providing a platform for the 13 participating countries, but what sits behind these numbers is the human story.”

“Whether it is someone’s mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter, there is an intensely personal story that is usually – unfortunately – accompanied by a lot of suffering,” he concluded.

Targeting the most vulnerable

Both men and women, including minors, were discovered working in night clubs, farms, mines, factories and open-air markets.

With thousands looking to cross borders in search of work, traffickers are targeting the most desperate and vulnerable members of society with promises of a better life.

Cem Kolcu, Coordinator of INTERPOL’s Trafficking in Human Beings unit, said: “What traffickers don’t advertise are the working conditions their victims will be subject to once their final destination is reached. During this operation, we identified women being forced to work out of spaces no bigger than coffins, for example.”

In Guyana, young women were found working as prostitutes next to extremely remote gold mines, from which they could not escape. This is a common modus operandi as the geographical location of the mines also complicates investigations.

“Isolated locations make it difficult for officers to avoid detection when travelling to these camps. By the time intelligence is acted upon, perpetrators have had the opportunity to act and move the victims,” explained Diana O’Brien, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Ministry of Public Security, Guyana.

A victim-centric approach

To ensure victims received the necessary care following their rescue, social services and NGOs were involved in conducting post-operation interviews and providing support services to victims.

Because they can earn more than they would in their home countries, some victims don’t identify as such, making it difficult to gather evidence and prosecute cases of suspected trafficking. Other victims are manipulated and intimidated into providing false information.

In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Asian ‘employees’ at a factory had been stripped of their passports and made to be completely dependent. Having never received wages, they relied on their handlers for housing, transport, food and the most basic necessities.

With similar examples across the region, this highlights the need to raise awareness amongst vulnerable communities in both source and destination countries and to ensure appropriate support mechanisms are in place.

INTERPOL Global Task Force on Human Trafficking

The operation was the culmination of the two-and-a-half year project funded by the Government of Canada, which provided specialized training to investigators and immigration officers in order to enhance operational expertise and regional coordination to combat human trafficking.

The programme is one of several projects under the INTERPOL Global Task Force on Human Trafficking, which received the backing of G7 Security Ministers last week.

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Serious efforts are underway with local stakeholders to further bridge the gap in an effort to have a program rolling out before the upcoming 2018-2019 cruise season that would further promote ‘#Re-discover St. Maarten’ campaign that has been underway since December 2017.

Making use of social media and having cruise passengers promote the destination via local unique opportunities for photo’s to share with family and friends back home, is seen as one of the ways to get the message across that the country is indeed open for business.

Port St. Maarten Management met with local cruise industry stakeholders several times so far for the year, namely the Indian Merchants Association, Philipsburg Promotional Board, and United Tour Operators Group, where the aforementioned shared their concerns regarding passenger movement and traffic through the shopping district Philipsburg. The last meeting with local stakeholders was facilitated by Secretary General of the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunications Miguel de Weever.

Port St. Maarten Management in its recent discussions with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Operations Committee, at the top of its agenda, shared with cruise industry partners the feedback from local stakeholders how to better promote the fact that Philipsburg is open for business to the passengers and crew.

Port Management informed the Committee about the importance of vessels that visit destination St. Maarten, to communicate current information and inform passengers that the shopping district is open for more than 80%. This information is key to driving business to the duty-free capital of the Caribbean.

“St. Maarten is known for its duty free shopping and culinary offerings which is pivotal to our economic rebound. As industry partners we bridged the gap with the lines and also inquired on the possibility to have tours dropped off in Philipsburg prior to returning to the Port.

“The Cruise Executives in the Committee were receptive to the idea but mentioned that a coupon system would have to be established with the merchants to grant tickets via land base or water taxi’s to return to the shops.

“We also informed the Cruise Executives about discussions we had locally with key stakeholders to improve the atmosphere in Philipsburg, for example, by having an end of the day parade, or having store workers dressed in folkloric clothing.

“We have to think outside of the box and be innovative, and every business in Philipsburg has a role to play in order to make this happen. Port St. Maarten is here to facilitate and get the message to the cruise industry, but we need all hands on deck. Every stakeholder has a role to play and has to step up to the plate for this to work.

“As a cruise destination, we must create the pull marketing strategy at this challenging time, luring passengers to take pictures and share online with family and friends. Social media marketing is free and we have to create the opportunities for passengers to share those unique personal experiences.

“We have key anchor points of interest in Philipsburg that we should be exploiting and promoting more. Once those positive pictures and experiences get online, more people will see and know that Philipsburg is really open for business as they re-discover the destination.

“A discussion that was tabled during the meetings were to create picturesque areas throughout the Island. We all know that photos say more than 1000 words, and we should be utilizing free marketing avenues such as social media more to get the word out,” Port St. Maarten Management said on Tuesday in connection with its recent discussions with the FCCA Operations Committee.

Acting Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Cornelius de Weever: “We need all tourism oriented businesses to get onboard where social media marketing is concerned. I once again appeal to the local business community to set-up their own social media tools to promote their business and the destination rather than only depending on Government. Sharing positive news, messages, photos and videos about guest’s experiences.

“Imagine, 1000+ hospitality oriented businesses in the country engaging with stay-over and cruise passengers and promoting them via their social media channels to the world where their family and friends view their travel experiences on the island.

“This promotion is worth more than what Government can allocate to tourism promotion annually, and therefore, it is for every tourism-oriented business to grab this opportunity and utilize it to its maximum benefit of their business and the destination,” Acting Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Cornelius de Weever said on Tuesday.

Port St. Maarten Management recently approved additional signage on the Port premises to promote the fact that stores are open in Philipsburg.

Social media has fundamentally changed the way communication takes place on a daily basis, especially for the travel, cruise and hospitality sector. The Internet age and thereafter the rise in social media channels influences on a daily basis to travel/cruise consumers.

Travel research has shown that millennials plan travel activities based on the communications they receive online from their peers. Validation from peers via social sharing sites such as Instagram and Facebook of photos etc., allows the person to pre-view their family member or friend’s experience, and can serve and inspire them to take a cruise or visit that particular site as well during their holiday.

Social media has allowed people to share their travel experiences with a wider audience and in the majority of cases it’s free.

SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – Services at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport were back to normal on Monday morning following Sunday’s power cut and the ensuing chaos.

Some 6,000 passengers whose flights were cancelled on Sunday are now being put on extra flights and there are no delays, a spokesman told news agency ANP.

Some 60 flights were cancelled and dozens delayed on Sunday after a power cut in the early hours of the morning. The cause of the outage, which led to the check-in system closing down, is not yet clear but may be linked to a major power cut in parts of the Zuidoost residential district.

However, travellers are being warned to allow extra time to get to the airport because of the regional transport strike. (DutchNews)

ARCHIVE: SINT MAARTEN/THE NETHERLANDS – Schiphol airport was closed for a time in the early hours of Sunday morning after a power cut caused chaos and the check-in systems could no longer operate.

Train services were disrupted and Schiphol access roads were closed to traffic after the departures halls became too full with travellers waiting for flights.

Although the power cut was over by around 6.30am, Schiphol is warning passengers to expect delays and cancellations and said no incoming flights will be landing before 9am. There will also be reduced capacity between 9am and 11am.

Easyjet said on its website it had cancelled some flights.

Edward Broekhaar from Zwolle arrived at the airport at 5.30am for a flight to Rome and said the situation was chaotic, with check-ins closed. ‘It took until 6.15 before we knew what was going on,’ he told broadcaster NOS. (DutchNews)

COLE BAY - The Police Traffic Department is presently investigating a”hit and run” accident which took place on Saturday April 28th at approximately 03.05 a.m. on the Welfare road in the vicinity of “Toppers” leaving one male victim very seriously injured.

On the scene the investigating officers found the victim lying in pool of blood in front of ”Toppers” and was clear to see that he suffered severe head trauma. The victim is identified with initials R.L.B. born in Barbados and a resident of Tortola.

According the information the victim at the time of the accident was crossing the street and was struck by a private vehicle with French license plate. The driver of the vehicle did not stop and continued driving in the direction of Simpson Bay.

Paramedics treated the victim on the scene and transported him immediately to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further medical attention. The Police Department later learnt that the victim would have to be flown to the U.S. because of his serious medical condition.

As this investigation continues the Police Department is asking those persons that were in the vicinity at the time of the accident and saw what happened to get in contact with traffic department as soon as possible by calling 54-22222 extension 241 or the Emergency Dispatch by dialing 911 .

The information you share can help in solving the investigation as soon as possible. (Sint Maarten Police Force)

PORT ST. MAARTEN – A Port St. Maarten team took the opportunity in Miami, Florida, last week while attending the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) Operations Committee meeting, to meet with one of their key stakeholders, namely Carnival Corp./Carnival Cruise Line (CCL), to discuss the country’s performance and passenger reviews so far for the season.

Carnival Cruise Line executives also used the opportunity to present Port St. Maarten Management with the first Carnival ‘Choose Fun’ flag as a symbol of partnership.

CCL Executive, Leon Suttcliffe said that Port St. Maarten is the first public Port to receive their rebranded flag since they rolled out their new marketing campaign earlier this year.

The Carnival Corp. executives reported that the destination St. Maarten experience ratings are near pre-Irma ratings, and they have been noting an upward trend comparing to January this year when they resumed operations to the destination.

Carnival’s ‘Choose Fun’ campaign is meant to inspire those who have never cruised to book a cruise. Based on research by the cruise line, Carnival is offering experiences that vacationers enjoy on land making them also available and just as enjoyable while on the sea.

Acting Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Cornelius de Weever: “I commend Port St. Maarten Management and the Supervisory Board for their proactive efforts in getting the word out that the destination is open for business since the passing of Irma more than seven months ago. The Carnival Cruise Line ratings reveal that we are nearing the pre-Irma ratings of cruise passenger guest’s experiences, and this trend has been upward.”

Port St. Maarten Management were informed that the destination and Caribbean at large are facing a challenge as consumer demand has softened. The statistics indicate severe drops in the interests and marque value of the destinations due to the hurricanes.

“The overall perception that the Caribbean is closed for business is still trending, and we must inform travel agents and industry partners continuously about facilities, tours and attractions as it pertains to re-opening dates on the Island. St. Maarten is performing above average comparing to other destinations that were impacted by the hurricane(s), however we must continue to be innovative country wide if we want to see a further improvement in passenger reviews,” Port St. Maarten Management said on Friday.

The ‘Choose Fun’ campaign will be splashed across paid social media and modular online videos on platforms such as Amazon Video, Roku and Vevo. It will also air on TV in such U.S. states as Atlanta, Los Angeles, Houston and Dallas, and during high profile events such as the Grammy Awards’ and NFL Playoffs.

The campaign is a 30-second television testimonial where people who are reluctant to take a cruise were liberated on a Carnival cruise. There are also five-second video snippets with content to match viewer preferences.

Candidate names have been submitted to Governor Eugene Holiday upon the recommendation of UNESCO Secretary General Marcellia Henry.

Once made official by national decree the first meeting will be immediately called to start consultations as an advisory capacity to Government in achieving the objectives of UNESCO through its fields of competence, namely; Education, the Natural Sciences, the Social Sciences, Culture, Communication and Information.

Though officially signed off in 2013, the Commission was never activated; Minister Wuite made it a priority to ensure that this took precedence.

The Commission will comprise of the Minister as Chairperson, the Secretary General of the Ministry as Deputy Chair, Head of the Foreign Relations Department, experts with knowledge or demonstrable experience in the fields of culture, education, natural or social sciences, media and communication, a representative of youth within society and the UNESCO Secretary General for a period of three years.

This Commission will serve as an opportunity to align with regional and international Commissions to share best practices to further Sint Maarten’s positioning with regards to critical development needs and innovation for education, culture, youth and sports.

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) – “If action is not taken soon, the prison situation can turn into a serious risk for the public safety.” Chairman of the Progress Committee Sint Maarten said to formateur Theo Heyliger in a meeting held on Wednesday, April 25th, 2018. “The alarming situation at the prison calls for immediate action, not only on Sint Maarten but also in The Hague as well.”

The Progress Committee is presently in engaged talks with the various stakeholders in the justice chain as a part of its quarterly monitoring of the plans of approach for the prison and the police force.

The situation at the prison with critical understaffing of security guards, the lack of a prison director and half of the staff not at work for a variety of reasons ranging from sick leave, suspension to assigned elsewhere but still on the prison payroll with the result that replacements cannot be hired due to budgetary constraints.

The Progress Committee invited the formateur to discuss the safety and security issues of the prison in particular and the issues surrounding the plans of approach for the prison and the police force in general.

The formateur shared the concerns of the Progress Committee. “I am happy that the committee took the time to inform me about the situation at the prison.” said Theo Heyliger. “I believe that St. Maarten cannot develop its economy and tourism product without properly addressing the safety and security issues on the island first.”

The formateur thanked the committee and promised to bring this issue forward in the discussions with the coalition partners as a part of the governing accord talks.

SINT MAARTEN (PELICAN) - At a press conference held on Wednesday April 25th at Simpson Bay Resort and Marina, Operations Manager, Marcel Javois shared why Simpson Bay Resort chose to partner with Victorious Living’s Leadership Summit slated for May 4th to 5th, 2018. “When Victorious Living invited us to partner with the Leadership Summit, we didn’t have to think twice about coming on board as it is a tremendous opportunity to grow the future leaders of this island.”

Javois noted that with the recent devastating impact of Hurricane Irma on St. Maarten, “What better way to contribute than develop the people of St. Maarten who are St. Maarten’s core resources. The people that serve our guests are the core resources, therefore for us to survive we have to develop our people. It makes me very proud that we can partner with Victorious Living to help develop future leaders like [Genora Jankee, the awardee of VLF’s emerging Visionary Leader Worth Following].”

Victorious Living’s Leadership Summit is an expansion of Leadercast, simulcast live annually from Atlanta Georgia to hundreds of locations around the world to over 100,000 persons. The vision is to develop leaders who are worth following. Leadercast will be held on May 4th and features internationally renowned leaders such as: Mae Jemison - NASA Astronaut, Engineer & Physician; Andy Stanley - Leadership Author & Communicator; Jim Loehr - Co-founder of the Human Performance Institute.

On May 5th, the Summit continues with workshops ranging from “How to turn your videos into cash” with the global visibility catalyst, Ann DeVere; the 15 invaluable laws of growth presented by John Maxwell Certified Coach Nelson Els, and ServiceBranding™ with marketing consultant, Jasmine Payne.

Payne will help persons currently unemployed or wanting to change careers, to discover their personal brand and merge it with a company that fits their personal brand. She will also assist employers to be more effective in hiring employees who are the right fit with their brand. As a result we have happier employees, creating happy and satisfied customers, which increase the company’s bottom line.

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn their leadership style through the DISC. Dr. Erna Mae Francis Cotton, the visionary of Victorious Living and Mr. Roy Cotton Jr., Interpersonal and Professional Development Coach, will provide an interactive and engaging session where attendees walk away with practical tools and their DISC Personal Style and Report for enhancing personal and business relationships.

Leadership requires developing competencies – specific capabilities and skills. Knowing your character (the strengths, and qualities of your personality) is critical to becoming a successful leader. If as a leader you develop an impeccable character, you will lead, inspire, and win wherever you go.

Dr. Alicia Liverpool, the visionary of the David Company and a 2016 recipient of VLF’s first annual Leader Worth Following Awards for Beyond You Leadership shared why for the past six years, she and her team have consistently attended Leadercast. She also offered words of congratulations and commendations to VLF’s 2018 Visionary Leader Worth Following Awardee, Apostle Napolina Richardson who emerged the winner through public voting.

Liverpool was in glowing praise of Mr. Ken Crossély as well, a 2018 Leader Worth Following nominee, for the tremendous way in which he mobilized the communities of Weymouth Hills, South Reward and Ebenezer in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, and saved the lives of a mother and her five year old daughter.

“I congratulate Apostle Napolina as a Leader Worth Following.” Liverpool shared how inspired she was by Ken Crossély’s work, citing that the world needs more people like him. “It is imperative that we recognize and honour those among us who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk. That is the authenticity of a leader who is able to match what they say with what they do and not by dominance.

“Nothing sends a better message, than a leader who leads by example. For the past six years, I have never regretted my decision to attend Leadercast; and this year’s theme is of particular importance for me, as it focuses on ‘Lead Yourself.’ Consistency is where the power lies. Dr. Erna Mae it is a privilege for me to partner with you and this endeavour; thank you for inviting others on this journey.”

VLF’s Leadership Awards and Symposium features a local panel of leaders including Mr. Dwain Carbon of Carbon Acquisition Group, Mr. Joseph Lake, and Apostle Liverpool. To register for VLF’s Leadership Summit visit: www.victoriouslivingfoundation.com or call 1-721-524-8731 by May 1st.

CUTLINE: Group photo of VLF's volunteers, board members and VLF Summit organizers, local panelists, Resort Marketing Manager, past Leadercast attendees, awardees and members of Y2X, youth wing of VLF.

PORT ST. MAARTEN – Port St. Maarten Management met with representatives from MSC Cruises USA last week at the company’s office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as they prepare a campaign focused on promoting St. Maarten as a beautiful and vibrant destination.

Port St. Maarten Management said that they are proud to inform citizens and stakeholders that MSC Cruises has arranged to have the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders on the Island on May 1st as they capture photos and video for their Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders Annual. The cheerleaders will also be participating in a segment of the second day Grand Carnival parade.

One of the most visible entertainment groups in all of professional sports, the Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders have traveled to more than 30 countries on five continents over the past decade and continue to be an iconic and international face of NFL Cheerleaders. The cheerleaders are on the sidelines for all home games and are extremely active in the community; visiting schools and hospitals, as well as charity and corporate events.

“This is huge for the destination especially at this time when demand for Eastern Caribbean cruises has been challenging due to the overall perception that the entire Caribbean was “wiped out” by the hurricanes.

“This is our opportunity for us as a destination to put our best foot forward and capitalize on this opportunity not only to showcase that we have the best Carnival in the region, but also that we are the most friendly and hospitable cruise destination in the Eastern Caribbean.

“We thank the Hon. Acting Minister of Tourism & Economic Affairs Cornelius de Weever for supporting this initiative along with the President and board of the St. Maarten Carnival Foundation,” Port St. Maarten Management said on Wednesday.

The marketing campaign will also include the filming of a music video featuring Emmy-nominated recording artist Alexander Star.

Star’s song “Pass the good vibes around,” delivers a bright and uplifting energy that invites the world to spread love and share positive vibes. “Working with MSC Cruises is a blessing, and this video will highlight that St. Maarten and Puerto Rico are back in business with great vibes,” said Star. Star will be on the Island on April 30 and May 1.

Port St. Maarten Management has also asked the Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performing Arts to participate with a small choir for segments of the video.

“MSC Cruises is thrilled to be supporting St. Maarten and helping our cruise guests ‘Rediscover this great island,’ said Bonnie Levengood, senior vice president of MSC Cruises. “Through this marketing campaign we hope to show our travel agent partners and consumers that the island is back up and running, including some of the hottest spots such as Maho Beach, and that there are a wide variety of activities for tourists to do while visiting.”

“As a destination we are now still at the starting line of the race, the race to recovery and regaining our competitive edge. We must be innovative and hospitable to our guests. The economy on the Island is dependent on the cruise product, and we need all hands-on deck.

“We have shown that we are resilient and can deliver experiences to our esteemed visitors, however there is much work to be done still in terms of full economic recovery. We would like to thank MSC Cruises for launching this campaign and placing resources to show the outer world that destination St. Maarten, the Friendly Island, is back in business as we push for them to come and Rediscover this great island,” Port St. Maarten Management said on Wednesday.

Swiss-based MSC Cruises is the world’s largest privately-owned cruise company and the number one cruise line in Europe and South America.

The MSC Cruises fleet currently comprises 14 ultra-modern, highly innovative and elegantly designed ships. Under its ambitious industry-unprecedented €10.5 billion investment plan, the fleet is set to expand to 24 mega-cruise ships by 2026. To date, MSC Cruises has designed six new ship classes, all prototypes that push the boundaries of marine architecture and design.

SINT MAARTEN (PHILIPSBURG) - In a letter dated Tuesday, April 24th, 2018, National Alliance Faction Leader, Member of Parliament, Silveria Jacobs, submitted a letter to the President of Parliament, Sarah Wescot-Williams, firstly thanking the Chairlady for her prompt response to schedule a requested meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister Mrs. Leona Marlin, to discuss the Status of the National Recovery Plan, the overall recovery of Sint Maarten in general, The role of the World Bank in the recovery process, the dissemination of recovery funds and the status of the Sint Maarten Project Bureau to manage the recovery project.

The above is scheduled for Wednesday, April 25th, 2018 and the Faction highly anticipates the discussion.

In addition, the Faction Leader also acknowledged receipt of a convocation for the meeting on the 2018 Budget which is set for Thursday April 26, 2018. Though the National Alliance Faction is anxious to deliberate over this matter, the Members of the National Faction believe sufficient time has not been allotted to thoroughly review the document.

MP Jacobs noted that the document was sent digitally over the weekend and same was still limited to access due to interruptions by GEBE at the parliament building this past Monday. MP Jacobs further pointed out that the copy received is deemed “illegible”even in digital form.

With the support of her fellow Members of Parliament, MP Jacobs is of the opinion that “in order to properly prepare for a budget meeting, especially in a time such as this when St. Maarten is faced with a deficit budget and at a precarious stage of the recovery, it is imperative that we, as representatives of the people, receive a read-only digital copy in excel form as well as a legible hard copy to be able to properly analyze the data provided.” she is quoted as saying. In addition, the NA faction also requests sufficient time to be able to properly peruse the Budget 2018.

Therefore, the NA faction requested the Budget meeting convened for Thursday April 26, 2016, be postponed until such time the proper documentation is provided to Members of Parliament and a reasonable time (5 working days) is provided to peruse said Budget document.